Carolina Ghost Shrimp Burrow - Callianassa major

You can tell that this hole, which was being washed by the surge, is a mud or ghost Shrimp burrow because of these waste pellets it has extruded! These are a series of tunnels that can extend up to 6 feet under the sand. They are generally U shaped, and allow for the water to circulate under the sand. These animals, which can be up to FOUR!!!(4) inches in length, have one large white claw. They are more closely related to hermit crabs than shrimp. Who knew? Wow. You apparently have little or no chance of digging one of these up, since they move really fast. Most are caught with suction devices, and are used by fisherman as bait.